Operating device for bookkeeping machines and the like



, 1632,228 June 14, 1927., V. J. HEDDEN OPERATING DEVICE FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed April 10,- 1925 I. II "m INVENTOR '1 jyllummmlnmmg lggy vmjugw Patented June 14, 1927.

PATENT orrlca.

VINER J. HEDDE'N, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

OPERATING DEVICE FOR BOOKKEEPING- MACHINES AND THE LIKE- Application filed April 10, 1925. Serial No. 22,222...

This invention concerns an operating device for bookkeeping machines and the like.

In the use of most standard types of bookkeeping machines, they are generally placed on a suitable support such as a desk or table, and preferably in proper relation to a movable portion of the support such as a platen. This platen is generally movable through the intermediary of a foot-operated pedal suitably supported beneath the table and connected to the platen by any suitable connecting element such as a chain. During the operation of the bookkeeping machine it is necessary at intervals to depress the pedal whereby the platen for one purpose or another can be moved down. In the operation of this pedal and in view of the character of the supports therefor heretofore used, it has operated uncertainly because of the frail character of the support for the pedal and the means for bracing said support. As a consequence the pedal operating means has in course of time become loosened and has in most cases become so defective that it had r to be replaced or repaired continually. This requires a loss of labor both on the part of.

the person repairing the machine and on the part of the operator, and also incurs a loss of time in the use of the machine itself which might otherwise be avoided.

It is the object of my invention therefore to provide a new and improved pedal suitably mounted beneath the support or table in such manner that during its operation it will never need repairing and will never get out of alignment, so that it will indefinitely be always ready for use.

A further object concerns the provision of a pedal support which is adjustable so that this particular type of pedal can be suitably aligned with various types of desks or tables. This particular adjustability is especially advantageous in view of the. fact that bookkeeping machines and tables vary slightly in their dimensions and characteristics, which require variations in the way in which the pedal is to be adjusted thereto.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing, of which Fig. 1 is a front view of a desk showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the desk taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. v

It is of course to be understood'that I do not intend to be limited in the use of my invention to the particular construction and arrangement of parts and to the particular character of materials employed, as shown as a chain, extending upward through the casing to a platen or other device associated with the machine being operated.

The invention concerns adjustable elements disposed between the walls of the desk or table and the tubular casing intermediate its ends for the purpose of laterally bracing said casing, whereby in the operation of the pedal thecasi'ng may be maintained rigid at all times.

The invention further comprises a simple strap bracket forsupporting thepedal on the bottom of the casing.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings there is provided a desk 10 having a top 11 on which a movable platen 12 is disposed in any suitable manner, being yieldingly supported by springs 31 or similar means. ing element, such as a chain 18, is engaged. This chain or connecting element depends from the platen 12 through a tubular casing,

14. This tubular casing 14 extends up through an aperture in the top 11 and is threaded, as shown at 15, to engage with threads in an adjusting plate 16 fastened to the under surface of the top in alignment with the aperture. By reason. of this arrangement of parts the tubular casing 14 can With this platen a connectbe adjusted with respect to theheight of the top 11 from the floor.

On the bottom of the casing 14 is fastened a V bracket supporting a pedal 17 This bracket is in the form of a strap 18 which is bent at its middle portion around the casing 1 1 and has its free ends 19 and 20 spaced apart to receive a bolt 21'which acts as a pivot element for. the pedal 17, Another bolt 22 connects the sides of? the strap 18 nearer the casing 14 to vary the degree with which the strap engages the casing. ing element 23 in the form ot'ablock may be disposed between the two bolts and the free ends of the strap 18 tokeep them properly spaced and to act as an obstacle to the upward movement of thepedal 17.

In order to laterally brace the tubular casing 14 I cause'it to pass through a hollow spherical element 24 disposed intermedlate the length of the tubular casing is. Ihis element is provided with apertures suitably threaded into which thethreaded ends of bracing tubes or rods, such as 25, 26 and 27 can be adjusted. The other ends of these bracingtubes orrods are threadeejlly engaged in adjustin plates such as 28, 29 and 30. These plates correspond in character" and function to the adjusting plate 16 previously mentioned, and are suitably fastened to the lateral and rear walls of the desk or table 10.

It is of course to be understood that the lengths and other dimensions of the tubular casing and the bracing members and the pedal parts can be varied at will, but it is obvious that by running the connecting ele ment 13 through a tubular casing it is kept out of sight where it does not come into contactwith the clothes of the operator, nor can it be injured easily so as to impair its operation; It is furthermore obvious that the tubular element is rigidly braced so that the operation of the pedal is firm and accurate atall times. device the necessity for repair or adjustment is reduced to a minimum and the consequent loss of time and labor is avoided.

I claim: r r 1. In an operatingdevice for bookkeeping machines and the like, a tubular casing dependent from a support, astrap bent at its middle around the end of the casing, a bolt connecting the free ends of the strap, a pedal pivoted on said bolt, a spacing block disposed between the limbs of the strap betweensaid A spac 'Thus in the operation of the.

bolt and the casing, said block acting as a spacing member and as an obstacle in the upward movement of the pedal beyond a predetermined point.

2.1I11 an operating device for bookkeeping machines and the like, a tubular casing dependent from-asupport, a strap bent at its middle around the end of the casing, a bolt connectingthe free ends of the strap, a pedal pivoted on said bolt, a spacing block disposed between the limbs of the strap between said. bolt and the casing, said block acting as a spacing member and as an obstacle in the upward movement of the pedal beyond apredeterminted point, and a sec ond bolt extending between the limbs of the strap between said block and said casing to varythe grip of the strap on the casin v In combination with a machine having a yieldingly movable member and a'connecting member attached thereto; a support for said machine, a tubular casing depending from said support, a pedal attached to the lower end of said tubular casing and adapted to actuate said connecting member, and lateral braces extending from said tubular casing to said support.

. at. In combination with a machine having a yieldingly movable member and a ccnnccting member depending from said movable member; a SUPPOTL for said machine, said support being provided with an aperture, a tubular casing suspended "from said support in alignment with said aperture and adapted to receive said connecting member, abrackct carried by said casing, a pedal pivoted to said bracket and connected to said connecting member, and a plurality of braces extending from said casing to said support.

In an operating device for bookkeeping machines and the like, an aperturedsupport, a tubular casing suspended from said support and in alignment therewith, means for adjusting'the vertical relation of the casing with respect to the support, a plurality of lateral bracing members extending in at, least three directions between the casing and the support, and means whereby the lateral bracing members can be adjusted with respect to the casing.

VINER J. HEDDEN. 

